GOP Members Pressured to Back War
By: John Bresnahan January 31, 2007 05:32 PM EST

House and Senate Republicans with reservations about President Bush's plan to boost U.S. troop strength in Iraq by 21,500 are complaining of harsh criticism from their GOP colleagues. This intra-party squabbling, in some cases, has seen Republicans accusing fellow Republicans of undercutting the American effort in Iraq, a charge previously reserved for Democrats.

These lawmakers, several of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from party leaders or the White House, are stunned by the hostility expressed by fellow Republicans. They are particularly concerned that anyone who raises questions or challenges the Bush plan will be branded a defeatist who wants to see America lose the war.

They are also worried, especially on the House side, that party leaders haven't prepared their members for the Iraq floor debate that will take place there after the Senate votes on Bush's plan next week.

"We need a full-fledged debate on Iraq within the (House Republican) Conference and we haven't had that so far," said Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill. "This is the issue of our times, and so far, we haven't talked about it."

One GOP lawmaker, who declined to be named, said it is "starting to get really ugly" among Republicans when they try to talk about Iraq and the wisdom of the new Bush policy. This lawmaker said when a Republican stands up who has doubts on Iraq, he's immediately "beaten down" by other Republicans who believe that any deviation from the White House position is intolerable.

Said another Republican with concerns about Bush's new strategy: "It's as if we are stabbing the party in the back, and we are only trying to do what we think is right."

Similar passions were on display Tuesday, when Senate Republicans held a closed-door, members-only meeting to talk about Iraq, a debate that took place in front of Vice President Cheney, who has been one of the most strident voices on Iraq within the administration.

"It was contentious. People feel firmly, and many of us very passionately, in support of our position," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who is opposed to Bush's surge plan. "What really upsets me is that those of us who (are) opposed to the surge are somehow not supportive of our troops and General Petraeus." Gen. David Petraeus has been named to command U.S. forces in Iraq.

The Senate is preparing to debate a handful of non-binding resolutions on the Bush surge plan, and senior Republicans are still trying to develop a party strategy for the floor fight. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved a resolution drafted by Sens. Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-Del., Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., that criticizes Bush's policy.

But a number of Republican senators -- including John McCain of Arizona, John Warner of Virginia and Judd Gregg of New Hampshire -- are drafting their own proposals that, while criticizing the surge, would offer support for the president and the U.S. military campaign in Iraq.

"It is the most serious issue in my career. I don't view it as having gotten personal," said Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla. "Like Senator Warner; we have different views, but I am more cajoling him, trying to come to something that brings us together."

Senate Republicans will meet with Bush on Friday at the White House, and the president is expected to reiterate his message that the surge plan is the only way to end sectarian fighting in Baghdad and surrounding regions, as well as providing Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki with time to create a stable political environment.

The Bush plan has infuriated opponents of the Iraq war, and some Democratic senators such as Barack Obama of Illinois, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Chris Dodd of Connecticut have introduced their own proposals to block the additional troops from being sent to Iraq or begin an phased "redeployment" of U.S. forces within a certain period.

House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, has been able to garner only "about 50" Republicans to sign onto his proposed resolution establishing benchmarks to measure the progress of Bush's new strategy for Iraq.

The Boehner proposal is designed to provide political cover to GOP moderates, but senior Republicans admit that rank-and-file lawmakers have not shown much interest in it so far.

That is likely to change soon, though, as Boehner is planning to launch a "full-court press" in the words of one senior GOP lawmaker, to get more Republicans to sign onto the resolution.

Privately, Boehner believes that unless he provides his members with an alternative resolution, Republicans who are skittish about Iraq will sign on to whatever proposal is offered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the Democratic leadership, according to a top Republican.

If that were to happen, following the Senate's potential approval of an anti-surge resolution next week, it would be "a huge political blow to the president," said the Republican lawmaker, who would discuss leadership strategy only on the condition of anonymity.